S.Korea strikes deal with Ecuador to export pears

South Korea's Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency announced on Thursday that after 10 years of negotiations, the country has secured a deal with Ecuador for the export of domestic pears.

Korean pear growers and packing houses can now register with the quarantine agency and meet conditions including pest control and inspections of cultivation sites and export pears to the South American country.

The agency plans to establish an "export procedure" that reflects the conditions for importing Korean pears to Ecuador.

Pears are one of the 10 most exported fresh produce from South Korea, with more than 20,000 tons being shipped annually to over 30 countries, including the US, Taiwan and Vietnam.

Write to Jung-hwan Hwang at jung@hankyung.com